98 



Experiments on Lawns. 



It is no doubt true that these, like all other single experiments, 

 are open to objection ; and that the conclusions to which they 

 seem to point cannot be regarded as entirely satisfactory. Never- 

 theless they are by no means undeserving consideration. 



In every case the manures in which Ammonia is a principal 

 ingredient proved by far the most effectual. For example while 

 unmanured ground produced of dry grass per acre, 8 cwt. 64 lbs., 

 and Nitrate of soda, and Nitrate of Potash, at 2 cwt. per acre yield- 

 ed only 15 cwt. 80 lbs., Ammoniacal manures gave as follows : 

 Gas water fixed with Sulphate of iron, 1 ton ; the same mixed with 

 Bleaching powder, 1 ton ; Gas water alone, (320 gallons per acre), 



1 ton 1 cwt. 50 lbs. ; Gas water fixed with Gypsum, 1 ton 2 cwt. 

 96 lbs. ; the same fixed with Sulphuric acid, 1 ton 4 cwt. 32 lbs. ; 

 the same alone (640 gallons per acre), 1 ton 4 cwt. 34 lbs. 



It also appeared that Bleaching powder (Chloride of lime) 

 produces effects nearly equal to those of Nitrate of soda. For 



2 cwt. of soda yielded per acre, 15 cwt. 80 lbs., while 1 cwt. Bleach- 

 ing powder, produced 14 cwt. 32 lbs. This, however, was only when 

 the Bleaching powder did not exceed 1 cwt. an acre ; when the 

 quantity was doubled the produce sank to 8 cwt. per acre ; and as 

 the grass was burnt by even the smaller quantity, it is not impro- 

 bable (and certainly merits enquiry) that half a cwt. per acre would 

 have produced a still better effect. 



It was also found that 160 gallons of Gas water and 160 lbs. 

 of Gypsum produced, under exactly equal circumstances, as much 

 dry grass as 640 lbs. of pure sulphate of Ammonia ; viz., 1 ton and 

 2 lbs. in both cases ; a circumstance of some importance when it is 

 borne in mind that the gas water and gypsum cost scarcely a quar- 

 ter so much as pure sulphate of Ammonia. 



At the suggestion of Mr. Edward Solly, the effect upon grass of 

 certain reputed Poisons was made the subject of enquiry ; when 

 it was found that the following substances had rather a beneficial 

 action, viz., strong Nitric acid, at the rate of 10 gallons per acre, 

 strong Muriatic acid at the same rate; and that Corrosive Subli- 



